McGill ends Selby’s reign in stunning upset

LUKE BAKER AT THE CRUCIBLE

ANTHONY McGill caused one of the biggest shocks in World Snooker Championship history to beat defending champion Mark Selby to book his place in the quarter-finals

The Glaswegian potter was ruthlessly efficient in building a 10-6 lead in the morning session before staying remarkably composed to clinch a 13-9 triumph.

Breaks of 68 and 87 moved McGill within one frame of victory and although Selby tried to stage one of his trademark comebacks, the 24-year-old held his nerve with a 82 to get over the line.

The Crucible debutant, a 150/1 outsider for the title before the tournament, was calmness personified throughout and will now go on to face Joe Perry or Shaun Murphy in the last eight starting on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, John Higgins faces a tense final session in his last-16 contest with Ding Junhui after the Chinese sensation made a stirring comeback in Sheffield.

The Wishaw cueman led 5-1 early in the match, and 5-3 overnight, but it was never going to be plain sailing and Ding duly fought back on Friday afternoon to lead 9-7. The two-frame advantage Higgins held following Thursday’s first session was quickly erased in front of a packed Crucible audience.

A break of 49 was enough for Ding to clinch the opener and the world No 3 looked even more impressive in notching a contribution of 80 in the next.

Seeing his lead eradicated seemed to galvanise the four-time world champion however and runs of 55 and 68 ensured that he claimed both frames before the mid-session interval to once again edge in front, 7-5. But after the interval Ding reeled off three frames on the trot to lead for the first time in the match.

Higgins, now ranked 13, has been exhibiting form reminiscent of his heyday in recent months and looked set to level things at 8-8 with a 57 break. But Ding’s 59 clearance means he will hold a two-frame advantage when the pair resume today.

Graeme Dott, the 2006 world champion, made a slow start to his last-16 contest against England’s Stuart Bingham – trailing 8-4. Bingham was solid if unspectacular in the morning session, a century break of 100 being the highlight, but it was enough to hold a 6-2 lead over Dott.

Larkhall’s Dott scrapped his way to victory in frame nine before a contribution of 56 was enough to narrow the deficit to two. However, Bingham clinched the final two frames before the mid-session interval to open up a bigger lead.

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